The London Assembly will debate a motion calling on the Mayor to back the People’s Vote. London4Europe Committee Member Michael Romberg provides a model e-mail to your Assembly Member calling on them to support it. Please write on or before Sunday 2 September.

In February 2018 Hero Borough of the Remain movement Hammersmith and Fulham Council called for the people to be given a vote on whether Brexit should go ahead or we should Remain in the EU. LB Ealing followed suit in April 2018.

“In light of the massive potential impact of the term of any Brexit deal on London, this Assembly urges the Mayor to publicly back the campaign for a people’s vote on the terms of the UK’s exit from the European Union and to lobby Government and Members of Parliament to support the demand for a vote.”

The motion has been put forward by Sian Berry (Green) and seconded by Caroline Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat). Under London Assembly rules more than one person may second a motion. So there is the opportunity for Labour to throw its weight behind the campaign as an equal co-sponsor. Conservatives too could decide to put the interests of London first.

Both the Labour and the Conservative groups are meeting on Tuesday 4 September 2018 to decide their stance on the resolution.

I encourage you to write to your Labour/ Conservative Assembly member and to all the Labour and Conservative London-wide assembly members urging them to support the motion. Addresses and a model letter below.

You can also write to Len Duvall who is the member for Greenwich & Lewisham and is the Leader of the Labour Group on the London Assembly which is the largest group: len.duvall@london.gov.uk

Similarly, Gareth Bacon is the member for Bexley & Bromley and the Leader of the GLA conservatives: gareth.bacon@london.gov.uk

Draft Letter

A draft letter is below. The more you can personalise it to reflect your own views and circumstances the better. If you know your London Assembly Member’s stance on Brexit or a People’s Vote on the terms you can tailor the letter to that.

MODEL LETTER FOR YOU TO ADAPT

Dear London Assembly Member

One of the key issues for voters in London is Brexit. London voted convincingly for Remain with 60% of votes in favour. There is no reason to think that the proportion has fallen.

At the Thursday 6 September plenary session, the London Assembly will debate a motion backing a People’s Vote on Brexit.

I urge you to support the motion. Under London Assembly rules motions can have more than one seconder. So there is scope for your party to be an equal sponsor of the resolution and to be seen to be a leader of the campaign.

[FOR LABOUR MEMBERS ONLY: You will be aware that Keir Starmer has said he is keeping an open mind on the question of a referendum on the terms and that Labour should keep all options on the table. So a vote in favour of the resolution would be within the parameters of the Labour Party’s policy, while moving the debate forward.]

[FOR CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS ONLY: I realise that the Prime Minister has ruled out a referendum on the terms. However, her Chequers plan is unpopular with both Remainers and Leavers as well ss with the EU. Her stance plays particularly badly in London. Support for Brexit is falling. You will wish to consider whether to provide some insulation for London Conservatives from the travails of the national party. Senior figures in the Party, such as John Major, have called for a referendum on the terms – so it is a recognised strand of Party opinion held by key figures.]

You will be aware of the campaign for a People’s Vote launched by a cross party group of MPs and supported by a range of bodies that call for the UK to maintain a close relationship with the EU. More information is at www.peoples-vote.uk. The Independent newspaper has come out for a referendum where the British people would have the Final Say on Brexit, as have a number of trades unions and professional bodies.

The case for a people’s vote is simple. Everyone reviews their intentions in the light of new information. Since 2016 we have all learned a great deal, becoming unexpectedly expert on the Customs Union and the Single Market. We have seen the promises of Brexiters evaporate and the Government struggle to put together a plan.

Central to the case for a people’s vote is that in about November 2018 the Government will have to produce a plan agreed with the EU. That plan will cover Transition, the Withdrawal Agreement and – crucially – the Framework for Future Relations. We shall for the first time know what Brexit means.

The same people who in 2016 voted for Brexit-the-idea should be given the chance to decide whether they like Brexit-the-plan. That would be the next question in the series. And of course the option always exists not to go with the plan, to Remain in the EU.

I ask that in the interests of London you support the resolution that calls on the Mayor actively to support a People’s Vote on the terms of Brexit with the option to Remain giving the electorate the Final Say on whether to go ahead with Brexit or stay in the EU.

Yours sincerely

{Give your name and street address so that they know you live in London/ the constituency}

Blogs on this page reflect the views of the author and not necessarily of London4Europe.

Printed (hosted by) NationBuilder. Published & promoted by London for Europe and by James MacCleary, on behalf of the European Movement UK. Suite 1912a, Portland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5RS, UK. The European Movement UK may use the information you’ve given to contact you. By providing your data to us, you are consenting to us making contact with you in the future by mail, email, telephone, text, website and apps. You can always opt out of communications at any time by contacting us or visiting www.europeanmovement.co.uk/unsubscribe. More information can be found in our privacy policy.